Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Koji Uehara hoists the most valuable player trophy after the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in Game 6. Uehara was named the series MVP, and the Red Sox advance to the World Series. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Championship trophy

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry hoists the championship trophy after the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in Game 6. The Red Sox advance to the World Series. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (39) gives a fist bump to Boston police officer Steve Horgan before Game 6. Horgan gained notoriety when he raised his arms in jubilation after the Red Sox's David Ortiz hit an eighth-inning grand slam during Sunday's Game 2 in Boston. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

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Irish Dance performance

Dancers from the Forbes School of Irish Dance perform. (Charles Krupa/AP)

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The Dropkick Murphys

The Dropkick Murphys perform the national anthem. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Ceremonial first pitch

Former Boston Red Sox player Bill Mueller, who played on the Red Sox 2004 World Series winning team, throws the ceremonial first pitch before Game 6. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Koji closes it out

Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara reacts after recording the final five outs of Boston's 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the ALCS. The Sox lead the best-of-seven series three games to two with Game 6 set for Saturday in Boston. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Turning point?

Key play early in Game 5: Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera is tagged out by Red Sox catcher David Ross at home plate to end the first inning. Cabrera ran through a stop sign by third-base coach Tom Brookens and tried to score on a single by Jhonny Peralta. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Going for a ride

A happy Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz picks up closre Koji Uehara after the Game 5 victory. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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In the way

Third-base umpire Rob Drake gets in the way as Detroit catcher Brayan Pena tries to tag pinch runner Will Middlebrooks, who went from first to third in a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Wild man

Mike Napoli, who homered in the second inning, scores on a wild pitch by Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez, right, in the third inning. The run proves to be decisive. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Can't get through

Red Sox catcher David Ross is out at home on a fielder's choice as he collides with Tigers catcher Alex Avila in the second inning. Avila would later leave the game with a knee injury. (Carlos Osorio/AP)

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He has pull

Mike Napoli gets his beard pulled, a quirky Red Sox practice, after hitting a home run in the second inning. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Stretching out

Fans reach for a foul ball hit by Boston's Stephen Drew in the second inning. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Fired up

The towels are waving as Tigers fans cheer in the first inning at chilly Comerica Park. The Detroit faithful were less enthusiastic after their team lost Game 5. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Back on the mound

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 5. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Hunt for runs ends

Detroit's Torii Hunter is greeted by Victor Martinez (41) after scoring on single by Miguel Cabrera in the second inning of Game 4 in the American League Championship Series in Detroit. The Tigers scored five times in the frame and went on to beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-3. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Padding the lead

Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias reacts as he scores on a double by Torii Hunter in the second inning. Hunter's hit gave Detroit a 4-0 lead. The Tigers' tweaked batting order busted out of its ALCS slump in a big way in Game 4. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Fist full of outs

Detroit's rotation turns in another quality outing, this time by Doug Fister. The right-hander scatters eight hits and fans seven Red Sox in six innings of work. (Tim Donnelly/AP)

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All Smyls

Detroit relief pitcher Drew Smyly reacts after getting a big out in the eighth inning of Game 4. Smyly retired all five batters he faced in the game. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Getting reacquainted

Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias jumps after forcing out Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia at second base in the sixth inning of Game 4. Iglesias was traded from Boston to Detroit as part of the three-team deal that sent Jake Peavy from the White Sox to the Red Sox. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Not friends here

Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia collides with Detroit's Jose Iglesias, a former teammate, as Pedroia tags Iglesias out on double play in sixth inning. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Out on strikes

Boston's Daniel Nava walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning. Behind Nava is Tigers catcher Alex Avila. (Carlos Osorio/AP)

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Peav'd

Boston starter Jake Peavy fails to get out of the fourth innings in his Game 4 start. Peavy says he'll be available to pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the series. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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The Benoit Experience

Detroit closer Joaquin Benoit does not give up a grand slam in Game 4, but he does allow a run and makes things mildly interesting as the Red Sox try to come back. (Matt Slocum/AP)

Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara celebrates after recording the final out in the Red Sox's 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park. Boston takes a 2-1 series lead. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Prince dethroned

Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder stands at home plate after striking out in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 3. Fielder had a chance to give the Tigers the lead. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Miggy foiled

The Tigers' struggles at the plate continue in Game 3. Here, Detroit star Miguel Cabrera reacts after striking out against Junichi Tazawa in a big spot in the bottom of the eighth inning. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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One bad pitch

Tigers ace Justin Verlander looks down after giving up a home run to Mike Napoli in the seventh inning. Verlander took the loss despite allowing one run in eight innings. (Paul Sancya/AP)

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Only need one

Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli hits a solo home run off Justin Verlander in the seventh inning. The hit represents the only run in a 1-0 Boston victory. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Lights out

Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia waits for lights at Comerica Park to come back on in the second inning. The outage caused a 17-minute delay. (Matt Slocum/AP)

Red Sox starter John Lackey warms up before Game 3. The Boston right-hander goes on to hold Detroit scoreless for 6 2/3 innings. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

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Moment of silence

Umpires bow take a moment of silence for umpire Wally Bell before Game 3 of the American League championship series between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday in Detroit. Bell died Monday of a heart attack, (Carlos Osorio/AP)

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American flag

American flag is displayed on the field during the national anthem before Game 3 of the American League championship series between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers Tuesday in Detroit. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

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The chase is on

Red Sox players chase Jarrod Saltalamacchia after his game-winning single in Game 2 of the American League Championship Serioes. The Red Sox won 6-5. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

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Jonny Gomes scores Saltalamacchia's hit to end Game 2. At left is Tigers catcher Alex Avila. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Salty sweet

Saltalamacchia reacts to his game-winning single. (Elise Amendola/AP)

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What an effort

Dustin Pedroia throws out Austin Jackson in the third inning during. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Papi goes boom

David Ortiz follows through on his eighth-inning grand slam. (Elise Amendola/AP)

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Torii goes over

Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter makes a great effort but can't catch Ortiz's grand slam homer. He crashes over the wall and into the Red Sox bullpen but isn't injured. (Stan Grosfeld/The Boston Globe/AP)

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Max effort

In this multiple exposure image, Tigers starter Max Scherzer delivers in the sixth inning. Scherzer handcuffed the Red Sox, who break through to win Game 2 against his relievers. (Matt Slocum/AP)